Dual action weightlifting machine

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus for performing simultaneous horizontal and vertical exercise movement has a stationary frame, upper and lower horizontal guides mounted on the stationary frame, and spaced vertical guides movably mounted on the horizontal guides for horizontal movement relative to the stationary frame. Two vertical slides are each slidably engaged with a respective vertical guide for vertical linear movement, and a weight bearing exercise bar extends horizontally between the vertical slides. This arrangement allows simultaneous vertical and horizontal movement of the exercise bar. Each vertical guide is offset out of vertical alignment with at least one horizontal guide.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/363,677 filed on Feb. 28, 2006, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to exercise machines, and isparticularly concerned with exercise machines of the type which simulatefree weight barbell exercise movements.

2. Related Art

Weightlifting machines with weight bars for simulating barbells, alsoknown as Smith machines, have been a fitness club staple for many years.The basic machine has a barbell attached to slide mechanisms which runon vertical guides on opposite sides of a stationary frame. This allowsan exerciser to perform exercises with vertical up and down movement,such as squats, bench press exercises, and the like, but does not permitany horizontal movement. The exerciser does not have to worry aboutbalancing the side-to-side or front-to-back movement of an independent,free weight bar. The premise is that this design provides an additionalmeasure of safety and is easy for the neophyte to use.

The first Smith machines had the vertical guides running perpendicularto the floor, which worked well for some exercises such as squats butfought the natural chest-to-chin arcing movement of a bench press.Manufacturers soon started designing Smith machines that placed thevertical guides at a slight (five to seven degrees) angle. These newdesigns worked better for exercises which involved travel in a slightarc, but not as well for other exercise motions which tended to follow astraight line.

The next evolution came with the advent of composite motion or dualaction Smith machines that provided simultaneous horizontal and verticalexercise motion. These designs allowed the exercise bar to follow anatural front-to-back exercise motion but still eliminated theside-to-side balancing worries. They provided a halfway point betweenthe balance and coordination needed to perform free weight exercises andthe security of a traditional Smith machine. These designs also providedthe ability to perform exercises such as lunges which require greaterhorizontal movement.

Dual motion weightlifting machines typically have a horizontal exercisebar which is slidably mounted at its opposite ends on two vertical guidebars. Each vertical guide bar in turn is slidably mounted on horizontalguide bars at its upper and lower ends. This allows the exercise bar tomove simultaneously in vertical and horizontal directions, so that theexerciser can perform a more natural feeling weightlifting exercisewhich allows for the natural horizontal movements of the arms whilepushing a weight upwards. The weight bearing bar or exercise bar isnormally a standard Olympic bar, which may have hooks attached to it ona rotatable sleeve for hooking onto pinning holes on vertical guides soas to hold the bar in a rest position. The usual weight for an Olympicbar is between forty and fifty pounds. By attaching hooks, bearings, andvertical slides, the weight is dramatically increased. In some cases,counterweights are added to help reduce the weight or inertia requiredto move the bar from a rest position. While this counterbalance offsetsthe vertical weight, horizontal weight is increased. It also adds to thecomplexity and expense of the machine.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein provide for a dual action weightliftingmachine which allows simultaneous horizontal and vertical movement of anexercise bar which is connected to slides on vertical guides which inturn are slidably linked with upper and lower horizontal guides.

According to one aspect, an exercise apparatus for performingsimultaneous horizontal and vertical exercise movement is provided,which comprises a stationary frame having opposite sides, upper andlower horizontal guides mounted on the stationary frame, first andsecond spaced vertical guides slidably linked with the horizontalguides, each vertical guide offset out of vertical alignment with atleast one of the horizontal guides, two vertical slides each slidablyengaged with a respective vertical guide for vertical linear movement,and a weight bearing exercise bar extending horizontally between thevertical slides.

At least one horizontal guide may comprise a single horizontal guide barand the other horizontal guide may comprise a pair of spaced horizontalguide bars. The single horizontal guide bar may be the upper or thelower horizontal guide. In one embodiment, the pair of horizontal guidebars is offset from the single horizontal guide bar and may be locatedat the opposite sides of the frame or offset from the frame sides. In analternative embodiment, each horizontal guide may comprise a pair ofspaced horizontal guide bars. In either embodiment, a traveling crossbar extending between the vertical guides may be slidably linked to theupper or lower horizontal guide bars. In some embodiments, upper andlower traveling cross bars extending between the vertical guides areslidably linked to the upper and lower horizontal guide bars,respectively. In another alternative embodiment, each horizontal guidemay be a single horizontal guide bar, and traveling cross bars may linkthe two vertical guides adjacent each of the horizontal guide bars, witha horizontal slide or traveling member associated with each cross memberand slidably engaging the respective horizontal guide bar.

In one embodiment, a traveling cross bar may link the upper or lowerends of the vertical guides, or two traveling cross bars may beprovided, with an upper traveling cross bar linking the upper ends ofthe vertical guides and a lower traveling cross bar linking the lowerends of the vertical guides. By linking one or both ends of the verticalguides with a traveling cross bar which is associated with at least onetraveling member to slidably engage an offset horizontal guide on theframe, the structure of the machine is simplified and greater stabilityis provided as compared to prior art arrangements in which both ends ofthe vertical guides have separate slides or traveling members which areslidably engaged with separate horizontal guide bars. This makes thestructure more lightweight and easier to operate, and the offset betweenthe upper and lower horizontal guides also increases stability andreduce free play.

According to another aspect, a dual action weightlifting machine isprovided which comprises a vertical frame having upper and lower ends, afront, a rear, and opposite sides, vertically spaced upper and lowerhorizontal guides on the frame, a pair of spaced vertical guidesslidably mounted on the upper and lower horizontal guides for horizontalsliding movement relative to the frame, at least one of the horizontalguides offset from the opposite sides of the frame, both vertical guidesbeing slidably linked to the offset horizontal guide, and an exercisebar extending horizontally between the vertical guides and slidablymounted for vertical movement on the vertical guides, the exercise barhaving opposite ends for receiving one or more selected weights.

In one embodiment, the offset horizontal guide comprises at least onefirst guide member mounted on the frame and a second traveling memberwhich slidably engages the first member. In one embodiment, one or bothhorizontal guides comprise a single first member or guide member movablyengaged by a single traveling member linked with both vertical guides.The use of a single horizontal guide member which is engaged by a singleslide or traveling member secured to both vertical guides reduces thenumber of horizontal guides and slides required and also reduces theamount of traveling framework, and thus the weight of the travelingframework.

In one embodiment, one of the horizontal guides comprises a pair ofhorizontal guide bars and the other horizontal guide comprises a singlehorizontal guide bar, with all the horizontal guide bars being offsetfrom one another. The vertical frame may comprise first and second pairsof vertical struts defining a generally rectangular frame, with eachlower horizontal guide extending between a respective pair of verticalstruts. In one embodiment, a cross bar extending between the verticalguides has a central portion slidably mounted on the single, upperhorizontal guide, which may be centrally positioned in the frame. Afirst upper strut extends between one vertical strut of each pair and asecond upper strut extends between the other vertical strut of eachpair, and the single upper horizontal guide extends between upper strutsat a central location spaced between the vertical guides. A suitableslide such as a sleeve, guide wheels, linear bearings or the like isslidably engaged on the single upper horizontal guide and linked to thecross bar extending between the vertical guides.

A single, centrally located upper horizontal guide bar may be providedin another alternative embodiment. This provides greater stability asthe exercise bar is used, due to the offset between the upper and lowerhorizontal guide bars and the single sliding link which slidablyconnects both of the vertical guides to a single upper horizontal guidebar. The upper struts between which the upper horizontal guide bar ismounted may be arched upwardly to provide more headroom clearance.

In one embodiment, the frame has first and second pairs of uprightstruts, each pair having a front strut and a rear strut, and eachupright strut having a plurality of spaced hooks or teeth facing theteeth of the other strut of the respective pair of struts and alignedwith the teeth of the corresponding strut of the other pair of struts.The hooks are designed to receive and support the exercise bar in a restposition. When the user is in position gripping the exercise bar, theyhave the option of placing the bar on a pair of aligned hooks or teethon the two front struts or a pair of aligned hooks or teeth on the tworear struts. Outer ends of the exercise bar outside the vertical guideon each side of the machine are placed directly onto the respectivehooks or teeth at the end of an exercise or if a user is unable tofinish an exercise. Safety stops are provided on each side of the framefor catching the bar if it is dropped.

In one embodiment, the weight bearing exercise bar comprises two endportions each having a vertical slide for slidably engaging a respectivevertical guide, a weight receiving end projecting in one, outwarddirection from the slide and a shaft projecting in an opposite, inwarddirection from the slide, and a sleeve rotatably engaged on the shaftsat its opposite ends. This makes the exercise bar much lighter, and thesleeve does not have any hooks or other devices for engaging on thestationary frame. Instead, each end portion engages directly on hooksprovided on upright struts of the frame. The sleeve may have 360 degreesof unobstructed rotation to allow the user to perform a greater varietyof exercises.

The dual action weightlifting machine allows simultaneous horizontal andvertical movement of an exercise bar and simulates a free barbellexercise. The exercise bar is connected to slides on vertical guideswhich in turn are slidably connected to upper and lower guides. Whereone of the horizontal guides comprises a single guide bar and a slide onthe guide bar which is mounted on a movable cross support that directlyconnects the two vertical guides, the overall weight of the travelingexercise unit is reduced, making the apparatus easier to use andreducing overall weight and expense. Offsetting the upper and lowerhorizontal guides provides greater stability than prior art arrangementswith aligned upper and lower guides. The central sleeve section of theexercise bar provides free rotation, duplicating the feel of a barbell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings,in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a dual action weightlifting machineaccording to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1, with partof the base frame removed to reveal a lower horizontal guide and slide;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the machine of FIGS. 1 to 3 with part ofthe base frame removed to reveal a lower horizontal guide and slide;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of themachine, showing the rigid attachment of the cross bar to the upper endof the vertical guide;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a lower horizontal slide showing its rigidattachment to a vertical guide;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an upper part of an upright strut of theframe, showing how the exercise bar racks directly onto a hook on aracking plate;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of part of one side of the machine of FIGS.1 to 7, showing the exercise bar removed from the racking plate;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing only the components of the movableexercise unit of the machine of FIGS. 1 to 8, with stationary componentsof the machine removed;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the exercise bar with one end of thebar separated from the rotating sleeve;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a modified exercise bar with tworotating hand grip sleeves;

FIG. 10B is an exploded perspective view illustrating the separatecomponents at one end of the exercise bar of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower end of the machineof FIGS. 1 to 10, illustrating an alternative lower horizontal slidereplacing the linear bearing slide of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but with a portion of thestationary frame removed for clarity;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the modified lower horizontal slide of FIGS.11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the lower horizontal slide ofFIGS. 11 to 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a dual action weightlifting machineaccording to a second embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the machine of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the machine of FIGS. 15 and 16;

FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of the machine of FIGS. 15 to 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of part of the top of the machine of FIGS.15 to 18 illustrating the attachment of the upper end of one of thevertical guides to the cross bar and one of the slides on the cross barengaging one of the upper horizontal guide bars;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of a lower horizontal slide of the machineof FIGS. 15 to 19, showing its rigid, inboard attachment to a verticalguide;

FIG. 21 is a view of the slide of FIG. 20 from a different angle;

FIG. 22 is a side perspective view of a dual action weightliftingexercise machine according to another embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a bottom perspective view of the machine of FIG. 22,illustrating the lower traveling cross bar and lower horizontal guide;

FIG. 24 is a front elevation view of the machine of FIGS. 22 and 23;

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of the machine of FIGS. 22 to 24;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view illustrating the rigid attachment of thelower cross bar of the machine of FIGS. 22 to 25 to the vertical guide;

FIG. 27 is a side perspective view of a dual action weightliftingexercise machine according to another embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the lower cross bar ofthe machine of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a front elevation view of the machine of FIGS. 27 and 28;

FIG. 30 is a top plan view of the machine of FIGS. 27 to 29;

FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of themachine of FIGS. 27 to 30, showing the rigid attachment of the cross barto the upper end of the vertical guide;

FIG. 32 is an enlarged view illustrating one end of the lower horizontalcross bar of FIG. 28, illustrating the attachment of the cross bar to aslide at one end, outboard of the vertical guide connection point;

FIG. 33 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a dualaction weightlifting exercise machine;

FIG. 34 is a bottom perspective view of the machine of FIG. 33,illustrating the lower horizontal slide and cross bar;

FIG. 35 is a front elevation view of the machine of FIGS. 33 and 34;

FIG. 36 is a top plan view of the machine of FIGS. 33 to 35; and

FIG. 37 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower end of the machineof FIGS. 33 to 36, showing the rigid connection between the lower crossbar and one of the vertical guides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a dual actionweightlifting exercise machine having upper and lower horizontal guidesand horizontally spaced vertical guides allowing vertical and horizontalmovement of a weight bearing exercise bar, with at least one of thehorizontal guides offset out of vertical alignment with the verticalguides.

After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled inthe art how to implement the invention in various alternativeembodiments and alternative applications. However, although variousembodiments of the present invention are described herein, it isunderstood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only,and not limitation.

FIGS. 1 to 10 illustrate a dual action weightlifting exercise machine 10according to a first embodiment. The apparatus basically comprises astationary main frame 12 and an exercise unit 14 movably mounted on thestationary frame. The movable exercise unit 14 is shown separately inFIG. 9, with most of the stationary frame parts removed for clarity.

The stationary frame 12 has an upper end, a lower end, a front, a rearand opposite left and right sides, and is designed to support themovable exercise unit. Frame 12 has a floor engaging base 15, first andsecond pairs of upright struts 16, 17 and 18, 19, respectively, upperstruts 20, 22 extending between the upper ends of each pair of uprightstruts, and upper cross struts 24, 25, the first upper cross strut 24extending between the upper ends of the front upright strut 16, 18 ofeach pair, and the second upper cross strut 25 extending between theupper ends of the second upright strut 17, 19 of each pair. A lowerhorizontal guide or guide assembly having a pair of lower horizontalguide bars 26, 28 extends between the lower ends of each pair of crossstruts at the lower end of the machine. The guide bars 26, 28 arelocated in a channel or shield member 30, 32 respectively, forming partof the base of the machine, for shielding users from moving parts of themachine. One of the channel members is removed in FIG. 2 to reveal theslide mechanism in more detail. A base connecting plate 34 extendsbetween the base channel members 30, 32 and engages the floor for addedstability. An upper horizontal guide or guide assembly having a singleupper horizontal guide bar 35 extends between the two upper cross struts24, 25 at a central position offset from the lower horizontal guide bars26, 28. The lower guide assembly includes traveling members or slides40, 42 which are slidably or movably engaged with the respectivehorizontal guide bars 26, 28. The upper guide assembly includes atraveling member or slide 45 movably engaged with upper guide bar 35.

As best illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the movableexercise unit 14 comprises a pair of vertical guides 36, 38 eachslidably mounted at their lower ends on a respective horizontal guidebar 26, 28 via horizontal slides 40, 42, a cross bar 44 extendingbetween the upper ends of the vertical guides and slidably connected tothe upper horizontal guide bar 35 via upper horizontal slide 45, and aweight bearing exercise bar 46 extending between the vertical guides andslidably linked to the vertical guides by vertical slides 48, 50. Thisarrangement provides simultaneous vertical and horizontal guidedmovement of the exercise bar 46, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 9.Portions of the lower and upper horizontal guide bars of the frame areincluded in FIG. 9 for clarity. The vertical guides 36, 38 movehorizontally back and forth on the lower guide bars 26, 28 and upperguide bar 35, while the exercise bar 46 can move vertically up and downon the vertical guides, providing for simultaneous horizontal andvertical movement of the exercise bar.

The main frame includes a rack assembly for supporting the exercise barin multiple possible positions when not in use. The rack assemblycomprises vertical rack plates 52 mounted on each of the upright struts16, 17, 18 and 19, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8. Thevertical rack plate 52 on upright strut 18 is not visible, but isidentical in position to the rack plate 52 on the other front uprightstrut 16. The rack plates each have a series of spaced teeth or upwardlydirected hooks 58, with the hooks on front upright struts 16 and 18facing the hooks on the rear upright struts 17 and 19, and the hooks onthe front upright struts and rear upright struts all aligned with oneanother. When a user wishes to place the exercise bar in a restposition, they simply engage portions 60, 62 of the bar 46 in arespective pair of aligned hooks 58 on the two front upright struts 16,18 or the two rear upright struts 17, 19. Hook engaging portions 60, 62are immediately adjacent and outboard of the respective vertical slides48 and 50. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the bar engaged in the two uppermosthooks 58 of the rear upright struts 17, 19, while FIG. 7 is an enlargedview illustrating the engagement of hook engaging portion 60 in theuppermost hook 58 on the upright strut 17. Weight plates can be added orremoved from the weight receiving ends 72, 74 of the exercise bar whenit is in the rest position racked onto two of the toothed plates 52, andthe exercise bar can be left in this position for storage purposes whenthe machine is not in use.

A pair of safety tiers 64 is provided for engagement between respectivepairs of rack plates 52 on opposite sides of the main frame, as bestillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The tiers 64 have pins 65 at their endswhich can engage on hooks or teeth 58 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Thesafety tiers can be adjusted as necessary, depending on the type ofexercise, to provide the user with protection against losing control ofa weighted exercise bar.

The components of the weighted exercise bar 46 are illustrated in moredetail in FIG. 10. The exercise bar 46 comprises a central, hollowrotating sleeve 66 which is rotatably mounted at each end on oppositeend members 68, 69 of the bar. Each end member 68, 69 incorporates arespective vertical slide 48, 50, and has an inwardly extending shaft oraxle 70 on which a respective end of the sleeve 66 is rotatably engaged.A weight receiving end 72, 74 projects outwardly from the respectivevertical slide 48, 50, and incorporates the portion 60, 62 designed toengage on aligned hooks 58 when the exercise bar is in the restposition. An annular bumper 75 is provided between the weight receivingouter end 72, 74 of each end member 68, 69 and the hook engaging portion60, 62. A bushing 76 at each open end of the sleeve 66 releasablyretains the rotating sleeve on the respective axle 70. This arrangementprovides a freely rotatable sleeve for gripping by a user whenperforming exercises, with the sleeve having 360 degree, unrestrainedrotation. The hollow sleeve construction provides a much lighter weightexercise bar than was used in many previous designs, and the verticalslides 48 and 50 are in line with the axis of the exercise bar,providing better weight distribution since the traveling exercise unitis centered on the exercise bar.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a modified exercise bar 200. Rather than asingle hollow rotating sleeve 66 extending between the vertical slides48, 50, as in FIG. 10, this embodiment has a bar 202 extending betweenthe vertical slides and rigidly secured to the vertical slide at eachend via set screws 204, and a pair of shorter sleeves 205, 206 rotatablymounted on bar 202. Bar 202 extends through the sleeves and engages inshort collar 208 projecting from the respective sleeve, and is securedin position via the set screw 204 extending through the collar and bar.The bar may be a solid bar or may be hollow to reduce the overall weightof the assembly. The sleeves 205, 206 are free to slide back and forthalong the bar 202 and to rotate through 360 degrees about the bar, asindicated in FIG. 10A. Bumper 75 is omitted in FIG. 10B but is identicalto the bumpers 75 illustrated in FIG. 10.

The provision of two rotating hand grip sleeves which are slidablymounted on an exercise bar as in FIGS. 10A and 10B provides greaterversatility in hand grip adjustment both before and during an exercisemovement. When the bar is pushed or pulled during a lifting exercise,the hands can diverge or converge in order to duplicate the types ofexercises performed with separate dumbbells, such as a dumbbell press.The user can also adjust the width of their handgrip to the mostcomfortable position.

The horizontal and vertical slide connections between the movingexercise unit and the horizontal guide bars are seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6and 9. As noted above, the exercise unit has two vertical guides 36 and38 on opposite sides of the machine which are slidably engaged withrespective horizontal guides 26, 28 at the base of the main frame viahorizontal slides 40 and 42, respectively. FIG. 6 is a close up of oneof the lower horizontal slides 40 showing its rigid attachment to thelower end of the vertical guide 26. The horizontal slides 40, 42 eachcomprise an outer sleeve housing a linear bearing which istelescopically engaged for smooth sliding motion along the respectivehorizontal guide 36, 38. A collar 80 projects upwardly from eachhorizontal slide and the lower end of the vertical guide 36 engages inthe collar and is rigidly attached to the collar 80 by a set screw 82. Abumper 84 at the top of collar 80 provides a stop which engages thevertical slide 48 to prevent further downward movement of the exercisebar beyond this point. The vertical guide 28 is rigidly attached to theother lower horizontal slide 42 in an identical manner, and likereference numerals have been used for like parts in the drawings asappropriate.

FIG. 5 illustrates the attachment of the upper end of vertical guide 38to the traveling cross bar 44. The upper end of the other vertical guide36 is attached to the opposite end of the traveling cross bar in anidentical manner, as seen in FIG. 7. Vertical caps 85 at opposite endsof cross bar 44 engage over the upper ends of the respective verticalguides and are rigidly attached to the vertical guides by bolts 86. Thevertical slide 50 is seen adjacent the upper end of vertical guide 36 inFIG. 5. Each vertical slide also comprises a sleeve enclosing a linearbearing, like the lower horizontal slides 40 and 42. The single upperhorizontal slide 45 at the center of cross bar 44 also comprises asleeve enclosing a linear bearing. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,the cross bar 44 connecting the upper ends of the two vertical guideshas first and second portions extending transversely from slide 45 tothe respective vertical guides 36, 38, and is arched upwardly at itscenter, as are the respective front and rear upper cross struts 24 and25.

The horizontal movement of the movable exercise unit 14 is controlled bythree horizontal guide bars mounted on the stationary main frame withthree horizontal slides movably mounted on the respective guide bars andeach secured to one or both vertical guides. The horizontal guides areoffset from one another, rather than being aligned in the verticaldirection as was the case with most prior art Smith machines. Thisvertical offset provides more stability and less play in the slidingmotion of the exercise bar.

Once the user engages the weight receiving exercise bar 46 and moves itfrom a rest position on the toothed plates and into an exercise readyposition, as indicated in FIG. 8, the entire movable exercise unit 14acts as one device to provide simultaneous horizontal movement. Thisallows a large variety of different exercises to be performed. Theexercise unit 14 is relatively light weight due to the hollow sleevedesign of the exercise bar and the use of only three horizontal slidesrather than four which was common in the past, producing a smoother, andmore fluid exercise motion. By reducing the weight of the exercise barbelow that of a standard Olympic bar, this machine allows a novice userto handle the weight comfortably and safely, without needing the costlyinclusion of any counter-balancing means.

The machine of FIGS. 1 to 10 has a reduced number of moving componentsin order to reduce the weight of the movable exercise unit, thusreducing the inertia required to initiate or change directions on thehorizontal plane. Some free weight exercises require the horizontalmotion to be paused or the direction of horizontal movement to bechanged at the mid point of an exercise. The reduced weight of themovable exercise unit in this machine allows such exercises to beperformed more easily. At the same time, the elimination of frameworkand reduction of the number of components reduces the overall cost andcomplexity of the machine.

The horizontal and vertical slides in the machine of FIGS. 1 to 10 areall linear bearings enclosed in outer sleeves which are telescopicallyengaged over the respective horizontal and linear guides. However, othertypes of slides or traveling members may be used in alternativeembodiments, such as roller wheels. FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate a modifiedlower slide comprising a pair of roller wheels 90 mounted in a channelor formed housing 92. The wheels 90 run on top of the horizontal guide26 with part 93 of the formed housing 92 wrapping around the lower sideof the guide 26, as best illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 14, to prevent theslide from coming off the guide. The lower end of the vertical guide 36engages in a collar 94 projecting upwardly from an upper wall of housing92, and is rigidly secured to the housing by set screws 95. An end stopbumper 84 is provided on top of collar 94, as in the previousembodiment. Both of the lower slides 40, 42 may be replaced with amodified, roller wheel slide arrangement as illustrated in FIGS. 11 to14. The other linear bearing slides 45, 48 and 50 may also be replacedwith roller wheel slides in a similar manner, if desired.

In each of the embodiments described below and illustrated in FIGS. 15to 37, the horizontal and vertical slides or traveling members areillustrated as sleeves enclosing linear bearings, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 10. However, the roller wheels of FIGS. 11 to 14 mayalternatively be used in the first embodiment described above or in anyof the following embodiments in place of the linear bearings.

FIGS. 15 to 21 illustrate a second embodiment of a dual actionweightlifting exercise machine 100. In this embodiment, there are twoupper horizontal guides and two upper horizontal slides attached to thetraveling cross bar which extends between the upper ends of the verticalguides. There are also two lower horizontal guides and associatedhorizontal slides. Unlike the previous embodiment, the respective lowerhorizontal slides are connected to the vertical guides in an offsetmanner rather than being positioned directly under the lower ends of thevertical guides, as in FIGS. 1 to 11. Other parts of the machine 100 areidentical to those of FIGS. 1 to 11, and like reference numerals havebeen used for like parts as appropriate.

The machine 100 basically comprises a stationary main frame and amovable exercise unit which is movably mounted on the frame. As in thefirst embodiment, the main frame has a floor engaging base 15, first andsecond pairs of upright struts 16, 17 and 18, 19, respectively, upperstruts 20, 22 extending between the upper ends of each pair of uprightstruts, and upper cross struts 24, 25, the first upper cross strut 24extending between the upper ends of the front upright strut 16, 18 ofeach pair, and the second upper cross strut 25 extending between theupper ends of the second upright strut 17, 19 of each pair. A pair oflower horizontal guide bars 26, 28 extends between the lower ends ofeach pair of cross struts at the lower end of the machine. The guidebars 26, 28 are located in a channel or shield member 102, 103respectively, forming part of the base of the machine. The shield memberis open on its inner side, as seen in FIGS. 15 and 18, to allow for theoffset mounting of the vertical guides. Vertical toothed rack plates 52are mounted on the upright struts in exactly the same manner as theprevious embodiment. The single upper horizontal guide bar 44 of theprevious embodiment is replaced by two spaced upper horizontal guidebars 104, 105 extending between the upper cross struts 24 and 25.

The movable exercise unit has a pair of vertical guides 106, 108 eachslidably mounted at their lower ends on a respective horizontal guidebar 26, 28 via horizontal slides 112, a cross bar 114 extending betweenthe upper ends of the vertical guides and slidably connected to theupper horizontal guide bars 104, 105 via upper horizontal slides 115,116, and a weight bearing exercise bar 46 extending between the verticalguides and slidably linked to the vertical guides by vertical slides 48,50. The main difference between this exercise unit and the exercise unitof the previous embodiment is the provision of two horizontal slides115, 116 on the traveling cross bar 114 engaging the associated offsethorizontal guides 104, 105, and the offset mounting arrangement of thevertical guides 106, 108 which are positioned inboard of the respectiveguide bars 26, 28 rather than directly above the guide bars as in theprevious embodiment. The exercise bar 46 is substantially identical tothat of the previous embodiment, except that the hook or tooth engagingportions 60, 62 outside the vertical slides 48, 50 are lengthened toallow for the inwardly offset mount of the vertical guides, so that theportions 60, 62 can still engage over the teeth or hooks 58 in the restposition.

The inboard mounting of the vertical guides 106, 108 can be seen inFIGS. 16 to 18 and is illustrated in more detail for one of the verticalguides 108 in FIGS. 20 and 21. The second vertical guide 106 is mountedinboard of the horizontal guide 26 in an identical manner. Eachhorizontal slide 112 comprises a sleeve housing a linear bearingtelescopically engaged over the respective horizontal guide 26, 28, asin the previous embodiment. However, unlike the previous embodiment, thesleeve of slide 112 has an inwardly directed rod 118 on its inner faceterminating in an upwardly directed cup or retainer 120 for receivingthe lower end of the respective vertical guide 106 or 108, which isrigidly secured to the retainer 120 by set screws 122. As in theprevious embodiment, an annular bumper or end stop 124 is provided atthe upper end of the cup or retainer 120.

As in the previous embodiment, the vertical guides 106 and 108 arerigidly attached at their upper ends to the traveling upper cross bar114. This attachment is illustrated in more detail for one of thevertical guides 108 in FIG. 19, it being understood that the attachmentof the opposite end of the cross bar 114 to the other vertical guide 106is identical. As in the previous embodiment, a cup or mounting ring 125at each end of the cross bar 114 is engaged over the upper end of therespective vertical guide 106, 108, and is rigidly secured to thevertical guide by a bolt 126. The upper horizontal slides 115, 116 aremounted in line with the cross bar 114 as seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, witheach slide comprising an outer sleeve enclosing a linear bearing whichis telescopically engaged over the respective upper horizontal guide bar104, 105.

The inwardly offset mounting of the vertical guides in this embodimentallows the exercise bar 46 to travel lower before it makes contact withthe bumper stop 124, which no longer has to be positioned completelyabove the horizontal slide. In other words, the distance between theconnection points of each vertical guide to the respective cross bar 114or rod 118 which connects the vertical guide to the respective slide isgreater than the vertical distance between the upper and lowerhorizontal slides.

The operation of the weightlifting exercise machine of FIGS. 15 to 21 issubstantially identical to that of FIGS. 1 to 11, with the movableexercise unit providing simultaneous horizontal and vertical exercisemovement of the weight bearing exercise bar 46. Although there are twolower horizontal guides and two upper horizontal guides in thisembodiment, the vertical guides are offset from all of the horizontalguides, and all of the horizontal guides are offset from one another,i.e. none of the horizontal guides are vertically aligned. This offsetarrangement gives less play and provides more stability, allowing asmooth exercise movement with reduced risk of jamming or jarring.

FIGS. 22 to 26 illustrate a dual action weightlifting exercise machine130 according to another embodiment which has an upper traveling crossbar 114 having two horizontal slides 115, 116 engaging two horizontalguides 104, 105, similar to the upper horizontal slide arrangement ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 21, and like reference numbers have beenused for like parts as appropriate. Unlike the previous embodiments,this embodiment also has a second or lower traveling cross bar betweenthe vertical guides 106, 108, as best illustrated in FIG. 23, the lowerhorizontal cross bar having a single horizontal slide 134 engaging asingle horizontal guide 135 in the base of the machine. The ends of thetwo traveling cross bars are both rigidly attached to the respectiveends of the vertical guides. A platform 136 is mounted on the base ofthe main frame of the machine, covering the moving lower cross bar andallowing the user to position themselves above the moving lower crossbar and away from any moving parts. This embodiment is otherwisesubstantially identical to the first embodiment, and like referencenumerals have been used for like parts as appropriate.

As in the previous embodiments, the main frame of the machine 130 hasfirst and second pairs of upright struts 16, 17 and 18, 19 each havingan attached toothed rack plate 52, upper struts 20, 22 extending betweenthe upper ends of each pair of upright struts, and upper cross struts24, 25, the first upper cross strut 24 extending between the upper endsof the front upright strut 16, 18 of each pair, and the second uppercross strut 25 extending between the upper ends of the second uprightstrut 17, 19 of each pair. The upper horizontal guides 104, 105 extendbetween the upper cross struts 24, 25 at locations offset from thecenter of the machine and from the opposite sides of the machine. A pairof lower cross plates 138, 139 extend between the lower ends of eachpair of upright struts. The platform 136 has cut outs 140 at each sideto provide clearance for the lower ends of the vertical guides 106, 108to extend down for connection to the lower traveling cross bar 132.Alternatively, the traveling cross bar 132 may be bent upwardly at itsopposite ends and extend up through the cut outs 140 to connect to thelower ends of the vertical guides. The lower horizontal guide 135extends between downwardly bent front and rear end portions 141, 142 ofthe platform 138, as best seen in FIG. 23.

As noted above, in this embodiment the moving exercise unit comprises apair of vertical guides 106, 108, a first or upper traveling cross bar114 extending between the upper ends of the vertical guides andassociated with two horizontal slides 115, 116 which are slidablyengaged with two upper horizontal guides on the main frame, a second orlower traveling cross bar 132 extending between the lower ends of thevertical guides and associated with a single horizontal slide 134 whichis slidably engaged with a lower, centrally located horizontal guide 135in the base of the frame, and an exercise bar 46 which is slidablyengaged with the two vertical guides for sliding vertical movement viatwo vertical slides 48, 50. The exercise bar 46 is identical to theexercise bar of the previous embodiment, with lengthened portions 60 and62 due to the inwardly offset position of the vertical guides andassociated slides 48, 50.

As in the previous embodiment, the vertical and horizontal slidescomprise sleeves containing linear bearings telescopically engaged overthe respective vertical and horizontal guides. In this embodiment, thevertical guides are mounted outboard from both the upper and the lowerhorizontal guides, and all three horizontal guides are offset from oneanother, providing greater stability and less free play when theexercise bar is operated.

The upper end of each vertical guide is rigidly attached to therespective end of the upper traveling cross bar 114 via cup 125 and bolt126, as in the previous embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 25.The attachment of the lower end of the vertical guides to the lowertraveling cross bar 132 can be seen in FIGS. 23 and 26. As best seen inFIG. 26, the lower end of vertical guide 108 engages in a verticalmounting sleeve or cup 145 at the end of lower traveling cross bar 132,and is rigidly secured to the sleeve 145 by set screws 146. The lowerend of vertical guide 106 is attached to the opposite end of the crossbar 132 in an identical manner. A bumper or end stop 148 is mounted onthe lower end of each vertical guide above sleeve 145 to limit downwardtraveling movement of the exercise bar, as in the previous embodiments.In an alternative arrangement, the ends of the lower cross bar 132 maybe bent upwardly and extend through the cut outs, with the lower ends ofthe vertical guides engaging in the upwardly bent ends of the cross barand secured in place with set screws.

FIGS. 27 to 32 illustrates a modified exercise machine 150 which is avariation of the embodiment of FIGS. 22 to 26 where the upper cross barof the moving exercise unit has a single horizontal slide and the lowertraveling cross bar has two horizontal slides. The machine is otherwisesubstantially identical to that of the previous embodiments and likereference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate.

As in the previous embodiments, the main frame of the machine 150 hasfirst and second pairs of upright struts 16, 17 and 18, 19 each havingan attached toothed rack plate 52, upper struts 20, 22 extending betweenthe upper ends of each pair of upright struts, and upper cross struts24, 25, the first upper cross strut 24 extending between the upper endsof the front upright strut 16, 18 of each pair, and the second uppercross strut 25 extending between the upper ends of the second uprightstrut 17, 19 of each pair. In this embodiment, a single upper horizontalguide 152 extends between the front and rear cross struts 24, 25 at acentral location, similar to the single upper horizontal guide of thefirst embodiment. Two lower horizontal guide bars 154 (only one of whichis visible in the drawings, the other being identical and positionedsimilarly to the horizontal guide bar 26 of FIG. 1) extend between thelower ends of each pair of upright struts, inboard of the lower shieldplates 138, 139 of the frame.

The moving exercise unit in this embodiment is similar to the previousembodiment, since it has a single upper traveling cross bar 155 and asingle lower traveling cross bar 158 extending between the upper andlower ends, respectively, of the vertical guides 106 and 108. As in theprevious embodiments, exercise bar 46 extends between the verticalguides and is associated with vertical slides 48, 60 which are slidablyengaged on the vertical guides 106, 108, respectively. The exercise bar46 is identical to the exercise bar of the previous embodiments. Theupper traveling cross bar 155 has a single horizontal slide 156 slidablyengaged on the upper horizontal guide 152. A single lower travelingcross bar 158 is rigidly connected to the lower ends of the verticalguides 106 and 108, and has two lower horizontal slides 162 at itsopposite ends which are slidably engaged over the respective lowerhorizontal guide bars 154. As in the previous embodiments, thehorizontal and vertical slides comprise outer sleeves housing linearbearings and are slidably engaged over the respective horizontal andvertical guides, although they may alternatively comprise wheels,rollers, or other sliding devices. A platform 136 is mounted on the baseof the main frame of the machine, covering the moving lower cross bar158 and allowing the user to position themselves above the moving lowercross bar and away from any moving parts. Cut outs 140 in opposite sidesof platform 136 provide clearance for the vertical guides 106, 108 toextend past the platform for rigid attachment to the lower travelingcross bar 158, or for a joint to project upwardly from the travelingcross bar through each cut out for rigid attachment to the lower ends ofthe vertical guides.

The rigid attachment of the upper traveling cross bar 155 to the upperend of one of the vertical guides 106 is illustrated in more detail inFIG. 31, it being understood that the attachment of the opposite end ofthe cross bar 155 to the other vertical guide 106 is identical. Avertical mounting sleeve 165 is welded at each end of the travelingcross bar 155. Sleeves 165 are engaged over the upper ends of therespective vertical guides 106, 108 and secured to the guides 106, 108with set screws 166, as indicated in FIG. 31.

FIG. 32 illustrates the attachment of the lower traveling cross bar 158to the lower end of vertical guide 108 and to the horizontal slide 162.The attachment of the lower cross bar 158 to the lower end of verticalguide 106 and to the other lower horizontal slide is identical to thatillustrated in FIG. 32. A vertical mounting sleeve 168 is mounted inline with the lower traveling cross bar 158 at a location spaced fromthe outer end of cross bar 158. The outer end of the cross bar 158 iswelded to the inner face of horizontal slide 162. The lower end of thevertical guide 106 engages in vertical mounting sleeve 168 inboard ofhorizontal slide 162 and is rigidly secured to the sleeve by set screws170. Thus, in this embodiment, the horizontal slides of the lowertraveling cross bar are mounted outboard of the vertical guideconnection points, unlike the horizontal slide of the upper travelingcross bar, and unlike the traveling cross bars of all of the previousembodiments which have horizontal slides mounted inboard of the verticalguides. A bumper 172 is mounted on the vertical guide 108 above sleeve168 for limiting downward movement of the exercise arm.

This embodiment also has a relatively lightweight moving exercise unitwith fewer components, making it easier to operate and less expensive.Again, the upper and lower horizontal guides are offset from one anotherfor added stability and reduced free play.

FIGS. 33 to 37 illustrate another modified dual action weightliftingexercise machine 180 for simulating free weight or barbell exercises.The traveling exercise unit of this embodiment has even fewer parts thanthe previous embodiments, since it has a single upper and lowertraveling cross bar, each associated with only one horizontal slidewhich engages respective upper and lower horizontal guides on the mainframe of the machine. The machine is otherwise identical to the previousembodiments, and like reference numerals have been used for like partsas appropriate.

As in the previous embodiments, the main frame of the machine 180 hasfirst and second pairs of upright struts 16, 17 and 18, 19 each havingan attached toothed rack plate 52, upper struts 20, 22 extending betweenthe upper ends of each pair of upright struts, and upper cross struts24, 25, the first upper cross strut 24 extending between the upper endsof the front upright strut 16, 18 of each pair, and the second uppercross strut 25 extending between the upper ends of the second uprightstrut 17, 19 of each pair. As in the previous two embodiments, a baseplatform 136 is mounted on the base of the main frame of the machine,covering the moving lower cross bar and allowing the user to positionthemselves above the moving lower cross bar and away from any movingparts. A single upper horizontal guide 182 extends between the uppercross struts 24, 25 and a single lower horizontal guide 184 extendsbetween extends between downwardly bent front and rear end portions 141,142 of the platform 136, as best seen in FIG. 34.

The moving exercise unit in this embodiment is similar to the previousembodiment, since it has a single upper traveling cross bar 185 and asingle lower traveling cross bar 186 extending between the upper andlower ends, respectively, of the vertical guides 106 and 108. As in theprevious embodiments, exercise bar 46 extends between the verticalguides and is associated with vertical slides 48, 50 which are slidablyengaged on the vertical guides 106, 108, respectively. The exercise bar46 is identical to the exercise bar of the previous embodiments. Theupper traveling cross bar 185 has a single horizontal slide 188 slidablyengaged on the upper horizontal guide 182. The single lower travelingcross bar 186 has a single horizontal slide 190 slidably engaged on thelower horizontal guide 184, as seen in FIG. 34. Although the upper andlower horizontal guides 182, 184 and associated slides 188, 190 arecentrally positioned and in line with one another in the verticaldirection in the illustrated embodiment, they may be offset from oneanother in alternative embodiments. For example, one of the horizontalguides may be offset to the left of the position in FIGS. 33 and 34 andthe other horizontal guide may remain in the center or be offset to theright of the position shown in FIGS. 33 and 34.

As in the previous embodiments, the horizontal and vertical slidescomprise outer sleeves housing linear bearings and are slidably engagedover the respective horizontal and vertical guides, although they mayalternatively comprise wheels, rollers, or other sliding devices. Cutouts 140 in opposite sides of platform 136 provide clearance for thevertical guides 106, 108 to extend past the platform for rigidattachment to the lower traveling cross bar 186 (see FIG. 34). The upperends of the vertical guides 106 and 108 are rigidly connected to theopposite ends of the horizontal traveling cross bar 185 in exactly thesame manner as in the previous embodiment.

FIG. 37 illustrates the rigid attachment of one end of the lowertraveling cross bar 186 to the lower end of one of the vertical guides108. This is identical to the rigid attachment of the single lowertraveling cross bar 132 to the vertical guides in the embodiment ofFIGS. 22 to 26, and like reference numerals have been used for likeparts as appropriate. Instead of the arrangement shown in FIG. 37 wherethe vertical guides extend downwardly through cut outs in the base plateor platform 136, the traveling cross bar 186 may have upwardly bent endswhich project upwardly through cut outs 140 for attachment to the endsof the vertical guides.

The machine 180 of FIGS. 33 to 37 has a lighter weight moving exerciseunit than the previous embodiments since there is only one upper and onelower traveling cross bar and only one horizontal slide associated witheach traveling cross bar. However, it may be less stable than theprevious embodiments. Offsetting the upper and lower horizontal guideswould improve stability. The exercise machine 180 works exactly the sameas the machines of the previous embodiments, and allows smooth,simultaneous vertical and horizontal motion of the exercise bar 46.

The weightlifting exercise machines described above have a travelingexercise unit of reduced overall weight and provide a smoother, morefluid exercise motion. Each embodiment has at least one horizontal guideoffset from the sides of the frame and one or both horizontal guides mayalso be offset from the vertical guides. The vertical guides may also beoffset from opposite sides of the frame. In a number of these machines,at least one of the horizontal guides is a single horizontal guide barwhich is offset from the other horizontal guide or guide bars, and isengaged by a single horizontal slide linked to both vertical guides by atraveling cross bar which is rigidly attached to both vertical guides.This arrangement significantly reduces the number of componentsrequired, and thus the overall weight and cost of the exercise machine.It is easier for the novice exerciser to overcome inertia and move theexercise bar when the moving unit is of lighter weight. At the sametime, the offset between the upper and lower horizontal guides withwhich the traveling vertical guides are engaged improve stability andreduce free play, as compared with prior art machines where the upperand lower guides were in line in the vertical direction.

The machines described above require fewer horizontal slides and guidesthan many prior art designs, and also requires fewer vertical slides andguides than some prior art arrangements. They also requires lesstraveling framework than some prior designs. Because of the stabilityand restricted free play, there is no need for any alignmentcompensation means, as were necessary in some prior art Smith machines.

The exercise bar is also lighter than in prior art machines because ofits design as a hollow revolving sleeve. Although some prior artexercise bars do have revolving sleeves, these have limited rotationsince they typically have hooks mounted near each end for engagingpinning holes on vertical struts in the rest position. The rotation istherefore limited by a stop mechanism to avoid rotating the hooks into apotentially dangerous position. In contrast, the hollow revolving sleeveof the exercise arm in the above embodiments can rotate freely through360 degrees. This allows the user to perform exercises such as curlswhich require different grips on the exercise bar and rotation duringthe exercise movement.

The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enableany person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Variousmodifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can beapplied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description anddrawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention and are therefore representative of the subject matterwhich is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is furtherunderstood that the scope of the present invention fully encompassesother embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the artand that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited bynothing other than the appended claims.

1. An exercise apparatus for performing simultaneous horizontal andvertical exercise movement, comprising: a stationary frame having anupper end, a lower end, a front, a rear, and opposite left and rightsides; vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal guides associatedwith the stationary frame; first and second spaced vertical guidesslidably linked to slide with respect to the upper and lower horizontalguides for horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame; eachvertical guide being offset out of alignment with at least one of thehorizontal guides; two vertical slides each slidably engaged with arespective vertical guide for vertical linear movement; and a weightbearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slides.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein each vertical guide is offset out ofalignment with both horizontal guides.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the vertical guides are positioned outboard of at least one ofthe horizontal guides.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the verticalguides are positioned outboard of both horizontal guides.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertical guides are positioned inboardof at least one of the horizontal guides.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the vertical guides are positioned inboard of both horizontalguides.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper horizontal guidecomprises at least one upper horizontal guide bar and the lowerhorizontal guide comprises at least one lower horizontal guide bar. 8.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the horizontal guides comprisesa single horizontal guide bar and the other horizontal guide comprises apair of spaced horizontal guide bars.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the upper horizontal guide comprises a pair of spaced horizontalupper guide bars and the lower horizontal guide comprises a pair ofspaced horizontal lower guide bars.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the upper horizontal guide comprises a single horizontal guidebar and the lower horizontal guide comprises a single lower horizontalguide bar.
 11. An exercise apparatus for performing simultaneoushorizontal and vertical exercise movement, comprising: a stationaryframe having an upper end, a lower end, a front, a rear, and oppositeleft and right sides; vertically spaced upper and lower horizontalguides associated with the stationary frame; first and second spacedvertical guides slidably linked to slide with respect to the upper andlower horizontal guides for horizontal sliding movement relative to theframe; each vertical guide being offset out of alignment with both sidesof the frame; two vertical slides each slidably engaged with arespective vertical guide for vertical linear movement; and a weightbearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slides.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the vertical guides are offset inwardlyfrom the opposite sides of the frame.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein each vertical guide is offset out of vertical alignment with atleast one of the horizontal guides.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13,wherein each vertical guide is offset out of alignment with bothhorizontal guides.
 15. An exercise apparatus for performing simultaneoushorizontal and vertical exercise movement, comprising: a stationaryframe having an upper end, a lower end, a front, a rear, and oppositeleft and right sides; vertically spaced upper and lower horizontalguides associated with the stationary frame; first and second spacedvertical guides slidably linked to slide with respect to the upper andlower horizontal guides for horizontal sliding movement relative to theframe; at least one of the horizontal guides being offset from theopposite sides of the frame; two vertical slides each slidably engagedwith a respective vertical guide for vertical linear movement; and aweight bearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slides andextending in a horizontal direction generally transverse to saidhorizontal guide.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein both horizontalguides are offset from the opposite sides of the frame.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein each horizontal guide comprises at leastone horizontal guide member mounted on the frame and at least onetraveling member slidably associated with the horizontal guide memberand secured to at least one vertical guide, at least a first one of thetraveling members being secured to both vertical guides.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17, further comprising a traveling cross barconnecting both vertical guides to the first traveling member.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one horizontal guide comprises asingle horizontal guide member offset from opposite sides of the frameand a single traveling member slidably associated with the horizontalguide member, and a traveling cross bar connects the traveling member toboth vertical guides.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at leastone horizontal guide comprises a pair of spaced, parallel horizontalguide members and a pair of traveling members, each traveling memberslidably associated with a respective one of the pair of horizontalguide members.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein one of the pair oftraveling members is associated with the first vertical guide and theother one of the pair of traveling members is associated with the secondvertical guide.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising atraveling cross bar connecting the pair of traveling members to both ofthe vertical guides.
 23. An exercise apparatus for performingsimultaneous horizontal and vertical exercise movement, comprising: astationary frame having an upper end, a lower end, a front, a rear, andopposite left and right sides; vertically spaced upper and lowerhorizontal guides associated with the stationary frame; first and secondspaced vertical guides slidably linked to slide with respect to theupper and lower horizontal guides; at least one of the horizontal guidesbeing offset out of vertical alignment with the first and secondvertical guides; at least one traveling cross bar rigidly mounted to thevertical guides and slidably associated with said one horizontal guideto slidably link the vertical guides to said one horizontal guide, thecross bar having a first portion extending between the first verticalguide and said one horizontal guide and a second portion extendingbetween the second vertical guide and said one horizontal guide; twovertical slides each slidably engaged with a respective vertical guidefor vertical linear movement; and a weight bearing exercise barassociated with the vertical slides.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23,wherein the traveling cross bar comprises a unitary member extendingbetween the vertical guides and secured to said one horizontal guide.25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said one horizontal guidecomprises a single horizontal guide bar and a traveling member slidablyassociated with said horizontal guide bar, the traveling cross bar beingrigidly connected to said traveling member.
 26. The apparatus of claim23, wherein said one horizontal guide comprises first and second spacedhorizontal guide bars, a first traveling member slidably associated withthe first horizontal guide bar and a second traveling member slidablyassociated with the second horizontal guide bar, the first portion ofthe traveling cross bar being rigidly mounted between the firsttraveling member and the first vertical guide and the second portion ofthe traveling cross bar being rigidly mounted between the secondtraveling member and the second vertical guide.
 27. The apparatus ofclaim 26, wherein said traveling cross bar further comprises a thirdportion rigidly mounted between the first and second traveling members.28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first and second horizontalguide bars are located between the first and second vertical guides. 29.The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first horizontal guide bar islocated outboard of the first vertical guide and the second horizontalguide bar is located outboard of the second vertical guide.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 23, wherein both horizontal guides are offset out ofvertical alignment with the vertical guides, the traveling cross barcomprises an upper traveling cross bar slidably associated with theupper horizontal guide, and a lower traveling cross bar is rigidlymounted to the vertical guides and slidably associated with the lowerhorizontal guide at a location spaced downwardly from the uppertraveling cross bar, the lower traveling cross bar having a firstportion extending between the first vertical guide and said lowerhorizontal guide and a second portion extending between the secondvertical guide and said lower horizontal guide.
 31. The apparatus ofclaim 23, wherein said one horizontal guide is located between thevertical guides.
 32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said first andsecond horizontal guide bars are located outboard of the first andsecond vertical guides.
 33. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein eachhorizontal guide comprises at least one horizontal guide member mountedon the frame and at least one traveling member slidably associated withthe horizontal guide member and secured to at least one vertical guide,at least one traveling member of the upper horizontal guide and onetraveling member of the lower horizontal guide being offset from thefirst vertical guide and secured to the first vertical guide at spacedupper and lower connections, the distance between said upper and lowerconnections being greater than the distance between said one travelingmember of the upper horizontal guide and said one traveling member ofthe lower horizontal guide.
 34. The apparatus of claim 23, comprisingvertically spaced upper and lower traveling cross bars extending betweenthe vertical guides and rigidly connected to the vertical guides, theupper horizontal guide comprising at least one upper horizontal guidebar slidably linked to the upper traveling cross bar and the lowerhorizontal guide comprising at least one lower horizontal guide barslidably linked to the lower traveling cross bar.
 35. An exerciseapparatus for performing simultaneous horizontal and vertical exercisemovement, comprising: a stationary frame having an upper end, a lowerend, a front, a rear, and opposite left and right sides; verticallyspaced upper and lower horizontal guides associated with the stationaryframe; first and second spaced vertical guides slidably linked to slidewith respect to the upper and lower horizontal guides; at least onetraveling cross bar rigidly connected directly to the vertical guides atfirst and second connections and slidably associated with one of thehorizontal guides to slidably link the vertical guides to said onehorizontal guide; two vertical slides each slidably engaged with arespective vertical guide for vertical linear movement; and a weightbearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slides.
 36. Theapparatus of claim 35, wherein said one horizontal guide is mountedbetween the first and second connections to the first and secondvertical guide, respectively.
 37. The apparatus of claim 35, whereinsaid one horizontal guide is mounted outboard of the connections to thefirst and second vertical guides, respectively.
 38. The apparatus ofclaim 35, wherein said one horizontal guide comprises first and secondhorizontal guide bars slidably associated with the traveling cross bar.39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first and second horizontalguide bars are located between the first and second vertical guides. 40.The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first and second horizontal guidebars are located outboard of the first and second vertical guides,respectively.
 41. The apparatus of claim 35, comprising verticallyspaced upper and lower traveling cross bars rigidly connected directlyto the vertical guides at spaced upper and lower locations, the uppertraveling cross bar slidably associated with the upper horizontal guideand the lower traveling cross bar slidably associated with the lowerhorizontal guide.
 42. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the otherhorizontal guide comprises spaced first and second horizontal guide barsmounted on the frame, the first vertical guide being slidably associatedwith the first horizontal guide bar and the second vertical guide beingslidably associated with the second horizontal guide bar.
 43. Theapparatus of claim 42, further comprising a first traveling memberslidably associated with the first horizontal guide bar and a secondtraveling member slidably associated with the second horizontal guidebar, the first and second vertical guides being offset out of verticalalignment with the first and second horizontal guide bars, respectively.44. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising a first offset memberextending from the first traveling member and rigidly connected to thefirst vertical guide at a third connection, and a second offset memberextending from the second traveling member and rigidly connected to thesecond vertical guide at a fourth connection.
 45. The apparatus of claim44, wherein said one horizontal guide comprises at least one horizontalguide bar and a third traveling member slidably associated with said onehorizontal guide bar, the vertical distance between the first connectionand the third connection being greater than the vertical distancebetween the third traveling member and the first traveling member, andthe vertical distance between the second connection and the fourthconnection being greater than the vertical distance between the thirdtraveling member and the second traveling member.
 46. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 35, wherein said one horizontal guide comprises thelower horizontal guide and the frame has a base platform extending overthe lower horizontal guide and the traveling cross bar to support a userabove the moving components, and the platform has clearance openings onopposite left and right sides for allowing the vertical guides to beattached to the opposite ends of the traveling cross bar.
 47. Anexercise apparatus for performing simultaneous horizontal and verticalexercise movement, comprising: a stationary frame having an upper end, alower end, a front, a rear, and opposite left and right sides;vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal guides mounted on thestationary frame; first and second spaced vertical guides slidablylinked to slide with respect to the upper and lower horizontal guidesfor horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame; the upperhorizontal guide being offset out of vertical alignment with the lowerhorizontal guide; two vertical slides each slidably engaged with arespective vertical guide for vertical linear movement; and a weightbearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slides.
 48. Theapparatus of claim 47, wherein the upper horizontal guide comprises atleast one upper horizontal guide bar and the lower horizontal guidecomprises at least one lower horizontal guide bar offset out of verticalalignment with the upper horizontal guide bar.
 49. The apparatus ofclaim 47, wherein one of the horizontal guides comprises a singlehorizontal guide bar and the other horizontal guide comprises a pair ofspaced horizontal guide bars each offset out of vertical alignment withthe single horizontal guide bar.
 50. The apparatus of claim 47, whereinthe upper horizontal guide comprises a pair of spaced horizontal upperguide bars and the lower horizontal guide comprises a pair of spacedhorizontal lower guide bars each offset out of vertical alignment withboth of the horizontal upper guide bars.
 51. The apparatus of claim 47,wherein the upper horizontal guide comprises a single horizontal guidebar slidably linked with both vertical guides and the lower horizontalguide comprises a single lower horizontal guide bar slidably linked withboth vertical guides.
 52. An exercise apparatus for performingsimultaneous horizontal and vertical exercise movement, comprising: astationary frame having an upper end, a lower end, a front, a rear, andopposite left and right sides; vertically spaced upper and lowerhorizontal guides associated with the stationary frame, at least one ofthe horizontal guides comprising a single horizontal guide bar;horizontally spaced first and second vertical guides both slidablylinked to slide with respect to the upper and lower horizontal guidesfor horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame; the singlehorizontal guide bar being offset out of vertical alignment with thefirst and second vertical guides; two vertical slides each slidablyengaged with a respective vertical guide for vertical linear movement;and a weight bearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slides.53. The apparatus as claimed in claim 52, wherein the single horizontalguide bar is parallel to the opposite left and right sides of the frameand located between the opposite left and right sides of the frame. 54.An exercise apparatus for performing simultaneous horizontal andvertical exercise movement, comprising: a stationary frame having anupper end, a lower end, a front, a rear, and opposite left and rightsides; vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal guides mounted onthe stationary frame; first and second spaced vertical guides slidablylinked to slide with respect to the upper and lower horizontal guidesfor horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame; at least one ofthe horizontal guides being offset out of vertical alignment with thefirst and second vertical guides; two vertical slides each slidablyengaged with a respective vertical guide for vertical linear movement;and a weight bearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slidesand extending in a horizontal direction generally transverse to saidhorizontal guide bar.
 55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprisinga traveling cross member linking the two vertical guides, said onehorizontal guide comprising at least one horizontal guide bar and aslide member slidably engaged with said horizontal guide bar andconnected to said traveling cross member.
 56. The apparatus of claim 55,wherein said one horizontal guide comprises a single horizontal guidebar which is slidably linked to both vertical guides by said travelingcross member.
 57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the otherhorizontal guide comprises a pair of second horizontal guide bars, andeach vertical guide is associated with a respective second horizontalslide member which slidably engages a respective second horizontal guidebar.
 58. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising a secondtraveling cross member linking the two vertical guides and connected tothe second horizontal slides.
 59. The apparatus of claim 58, whereineach vertical guide is vertically aligned with the respective secondhorizontal slide and second horizontal guide bar.
 60. The apparatus ofclaim 58, wherein each vertical guide is offset inwardly from therespective second horizontal slide and second horizontal guide bar. 61.The apparatus of claim 58, wherein each vertical guide is offsetoutwardly from the respective second horizontal slide and secondhorizontal guide bar.
 62. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the singlehorizontal guide bar comprises the upper horizontal guide and the secondhorizontal guide bars comprise the lower horizontal guide.
 63. Theapparatus of claim 58, wherein the single horizontal guide bar comprisesthe lower horizontal guide and the second horizontal guide bars comprisethe upper horizontal guide.
 64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein theframe has a base platform extending over the single horizontal guide barto support a user above the moving components.
 65. The apparatus ofclaim 55, further comprising a second traveling cross member linking thevertical guides at a location spaced from the first traveling crossmember and slidably associated with the second horizontal guide.
 66. Theapparatus of claim 65, wherein the first traveling cross bar links theupper ends of the vertical guides and the second traveling cross barlinks the lower ends of the vertical guides.
 67. An exercise apparatusfor performing simultaneous horizontal and vertical exercise movement,comprising: a stationary frame having an upper end, a lower end, afront, a rear, and opposite left and right sides; vertically spacedfirst and second horizontal guide assemblies associated with thestationary frame; first and second spaced vertical guides associatedwith the first and second horizontal guide assemblies to slidehorizontally relative to the frame; each horizontal guide assemblycomprising at least one first member mounted on the stationary frame andat least one second member movably engaged with the first member forhorizontal movement relative to the first member and linked to at leastone of the vertical guides; the second member of at least one of thehorizontal guide assemblies being offset out of vertical alignment withboth vertical guides; two vertical slides each slidably engaged with arespective vertical guide for vertical linear movement; and a weightbearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slides and extendingin a horizontal direction generally transverse to at least the secondmember of each horizontal guide assembly.
 68. The apparatus of claim 67,wherein the first member and second member of each horizontal guideassembly are telescopically engaged for relative horizontal slidingmovement.
 69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein one of the horizontalguide assemblies comprises a single first member and a single secondmember movably engaged with the single first member and linked to bothvertical guides.
 70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said onehorizontal guide is the upper horizontal guide.
 71. The apparatus ofclaim 69, wherein said one horizontal guide is the lower horizontalguide.
 72. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein both horizontal guidescomprise a single first member and a single second member movablyengaged with the respective single first member and linked to bothvertical guides.
 73. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising atraveling cross bar connecting the second member of said one horizontalguide assembly to both of the vertical guides.
 74. An exercise apparatusfor performing simultaneous horizontal and vertical exercise movement,comprising: a stationary frame having an upper end, a lower end, afront, a rear, and opposite left and right sides; vertically spacedupper and lower horizontal guide assemblies associated with thestationary frame; spaced left and right vertical guides slidably linkedwith the upper and lower horizontal guides for horizontal slidingmovement relative to the frame; each horizontal guide assemblycomprising at least one guide member mounted on the frame and at leastone traveling member slidably engaged with the guide member to move in ahorizontal path along a travel axis extending perpendicular to the rearof the frame; the travel axis of at least a first one of said travelingmembers relative to the associated guide member being offset from theopposite sides of the frame; two vertical slides each slidably engagedwith a respective vertical guide for vertical linear movement; and aweight bearing exercise bar associated with the vertical slides andextending in a horizontal direction generally transverse to said travelaxes.
 75. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the travel axis of said atleast one traveling member is spaced between the opposite sides of theframe.
 76. The apparatus of claim 74, further comprising at least onetraveling cross bar linking the left and right vertical guides andsecured to said first traveling member at a location between saidvertical guides.
 77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the travelingcross bar extends generally parallel to the weight bearing exercise barand transverse to the guide member engaged by said first travelingmember.
 78. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein said traveling memberscomprise slide members telescopically engaged with the respective guidemembers.